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PowerDNS Authoritative Server

powerdns.com

From $816.67/mo LinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.0 #6 of 23 in DNS Server Software

Spec sheet

Purpose
The Authoritative Server hosts domain names and answers DNS queries for records it serves.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Intended users
The product is presented for providers hosting domain names, including large-scale hosting deployments.Read 3 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Platforms
Downloads are available as source, Linux packages for multiple distributions, and Docker images; the software is also shipped with Linux and UNIX distributions.Read 3 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
API
A built-in web server exposes a JSON/REST API for operations including statistics and changes to zones, metadata, and DNSSEC key material.Read 3 Oct 2026 · doc.powerdns.com
Security
The API uses a configured static API key sent in the X-API-Key header.Read 3 Oct 2026 · doc.powerdns.com
Support
Commercial support is available under SLAs, with service levels ranging from office hours to 24/7 and assistance with deployment and configuration.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Founded
1999Read 23 Sep 2026 · powerdns.com
Backends
Supported backends include MySQL or MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite3, LDAP, LMDB, BIND zone files, and others.Read 3 Oct 2026 · doc.powerdns.com
Database backends
Listed backends include LMDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite3, LDAP, and plain text files.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Distribution
The software is available as source, Linux packages, and Docker images, and is shipped by Linux and UNIX distributions including Debian, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, SUSE, and Ubuntu.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
DNSSEC
It supports DNSSEC, including one-click signing capabilities.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
HTTP API
The built-in webserver exposes a JSON/REST API for functions including statistics and zone content, metadata, and DNSSEC key management.Read 4 Oct 2026 · doc.powerdns.com
Management interface
ZoneControl is a web-based interface with bulk changes, role-based access, version history, and one-click DNSSEC.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Monitoring and traffic
The product page describes automated reporting, real-time statistics, and geographical load balancing across regions.Read 3 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Product limits
Authoritative Essentials plans cover up to 8, 16, or 24 operating-system cores; deployments requiring more than 24 cores should contact PowerDNS about customized options.Read 4 Oct 2026 · inc.powerdns.com
Replication
Lightning Stream synchronizes local LMDB databases between Authoritative Servers and supports one-way or two-way replication.Read 3 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Replication integration
Lightning Stream synchronizes local LMDB databases between Authoritative Server instances and supports one-way or two-way replication.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Scale
The product page says one server can scale to millions of domains and is used for large hosting deployments.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Scripting
DNS answers can be scripted using languages including Lua, Java, Perl, Python, Ruby, C, and C++.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Security controls
Documentation recommends privilege reduction with setuid and setgid and describes security-status polling for version advisories.Read 4 Oct 2026 · doc.powerdns.com
Statistics and routing
The product page lists automated reporting, real-time statistics, and geographical load balancing.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Who it serves
PowerDNS says its users and partners include telecommunications providers, integrators, content distribution networks, cable networks, security vendors, and Fortune 500 software companies.Read 4 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com
Zone management
The ZoneControl web interface supports bulk changes, one-click DNSSEC, role-based access, and version history for reversing changes.Read 3 Oct 2026 · powerdns.com

Plans and prices

Basic (PowerDNS Authoritative Essentials) $9,800 a year $9,800 /year; limited launch offer: $8,330 for the 1st year with code ESSENTIALS2026 up to 8 cores · includes business-hours email support, ZoneControl, one-click DNSSEC, version/history and permission management Read 4 Oct 2026 · inc.powerdns.com
Advanced (PowerDNS Authoritative Essentials) $13,600 a year $13,600 /year; limited launch offer: $11,560 for the 1st year with code ESSENTIALS2026 up to 16 cores · includes business-hours email support, ZoneControl, one-click DNSSEC, version/history and permission management Read 4 Oct 2026 · inc.powerdns.com
Pro (PowerDNS Authoritative Essentials) $17,400 a year $17,400 /year; limited launch offer: $14,790 for the 1st year with code ESSENTIALS2026 up to 24 cores · includes business-hours email support, ZoneControl, one-click DNSSEC, version/history and permission management Read 4 Oct 2026 · inc.powerdns.com

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